Ice and frost scraper for windshields



Nov. 2, 1965 T. H. BELL 3,214,834

ICE AND FROST SCRAPER FOR WINDSHIELDS Filed Feb. 7, 1964 INVENTOR. TERREL H. BELL HIS TORNEY United States Patent 3,214,834 ICE AND FROST SCRAPER FOR WINDSHIELDS Terrel H. Bell, 2269 Panorama Way, Holladay, Utah Filed Feb. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 343,306 1 Claim. (Cl. 30-169) The present invention relates to scraping tools and, more particularly, to a new and improved scraping tool designed to remove ice and frost from Windshields and other object surfaces.

In the past many types of scraping tools have been devised, and for a number of purposes. So far as scraping tools designed for the removal of ice and snow from surfaces such as Windshields, certain special requirements are presented. The first is that the scraping edge be sharp and, preferably, beveled, this so that the working edge or apex of the scraping portion of the tool may contact the ice and snow intended for removal in a most advantageous manner.

Secondly, motorists and others interested in the use of such a tool are all aware of the mild to extreme, coldweather conditions which may exist when use of the tool is desired; hence, all sharp edges should be minimized as much as possible in order that the tool be comfortable to handle and to use. Further, there is the problem of providing a tool which can be easily molded or otherwise formed in a one-stage operation.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful tool for scraping ice and frost from automobile Windshields and other similar types of surfaces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a scraper tool which can be gripped very easily, and this so that the fingers of the user do not engage edges of the tool which might otherwise be uncomfortable during coldweather conditions.

A further object is to provide a novel finger receiving pocket deformity in a scraper tool, this to facilitate hand comfort of the user and also to provide for an integrated, strong tool construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel scraper tool which can be molded from plastic or other suitable material, or formed from metal, in a very con venient and inexpensive manner.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claim. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away and sectioned for convenience of illustration, of a scraping tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG- URE 1, this time taken from the reverse side of the scraping tool, looking down.

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation, taken from the right side of the structure in FIGURE 1, of the scraping tool of the present invention, illustrating the manual grasping and actuation thereof over a surface to be worked.

In FIGURE 1 the scraper tool of the present invention is shown to include blade portion 11 and handle portion 12 integral therewith and the latter having under surface U (see FIGURES 1 and 3). In a preferred form of the invention the blade portion 11 extends laterally from handle portion 12, to facilitate easy and effective operation of the tool in an optimum manner.

Integrally formed with handle portion 12 is its transversely oriented, finger-grip pocket 13. As is seen in 3,214,834 Fatented Nov. 2, 1965 FIGURE 2, pocket 13 may be considered as being disposed parallel to and extending in the same direction as blade portion 11, and, in particular, scraping edge extremity 14 thereof. The transverse, scraping edge extremity 14 is preferably provided, and is formed junc ture between blade portion surface 15 and the bevelededge surface 16 shown in FIGURE 3. The degree of bevel chosen for surface 16, e.g., of the order of 30", should be chosen such that the tool can be easily manipulated by the user so that the edge extremity 14 is permitted contact in a scraping manner the particular surface from which ice and frost are to be removed. In this regard note is to be made of surface S in FIGURE 3, the ice and frost IF disposed thereon, and the action of the tool 10 in proceeding in a direction of arrow A to accomplish its intended function in removing the ice and frost IF from surface S. Generally this surface S will be the exterior surface of a windshield, a plate of glass or other plastic, or other type of surface from which ice, snow, and frost removal therefrom is desirable.

In FIGURE 2 it is noted that there will preferably be provided a stiffener margin 17 designed to provide support for the tool 10 at the handle portion web 13 thereof. The design of the stiffener margin 17 with blade portion 11 serves to provide somewhat of a fillet construction 19 serving to reinforce the juncture J of blade portion 11 with handle portion 12. Additionally, by this technique the web 18 of the handle portion 12 can be made quite thin and the overall tool simply comprise a high strength, easily molded, one-piece plastic part.

As to the angle between the orientation of the planes of blade portion 11 and handle portion 12, it will be noted in FIGURE 3 that this orientation is the order of or somewhat less. However, other angles of orientation may be used so long as the tool can be gripped satisfactorily and worked such that the working edge 14 thereof may effectively contact the surface desired to be scraped.

Of particular interest is the nature of the pocket deformity 13. It is noted that this is a closed pocket. Were a simple aperture substituted for the pocket 13, then certain problems for cold-weather operation would be encountered, among which would be the discomfort experienced by a user grasping the tool for, thereby, an aperture edge would engage and tend to cut into the users glove and fingers of his hand gripping the tool. A vector analysis approach to the problem clearly indicates that such an aperture is not needed and, furthermore, would not enhance performance, even aside from the discomfort features, over the instant design. As shown in FIGURE 3 it will be seen that hand pressure exerted upon the tool is by the users fingers, with the tip of the thumb serving somewhat as a fulcrum. Hence, great pressure can be applied to the tool and the surface which it scrapes by a simple thumb and finger action, and this without tiring the hand or encountering at all, any dis comfort to the fingers. In order for such a design to be fully effective, the handle portion must be so constructed, arranged, and dimensioned with respect to the pocket 13 such that the users thumb T can be placed on a side opposite to the fingers (F) engaging surface, in order that the heel, palm, or index finger-thumb portion of the hand may be accommodated.

The operation of the structure becomes apparent by way of reference to FIGURE 3. The windshield or other surfaces desired to be scraped is contacted by the scraping edge 14 of blade portion 11 of the tool. The user exerts pressure by means of his fingers against the interior of pocket 13, and position of the scraping tool maintained by the thumb of the user, operating as a fulcrum, and by the support given by the hand to the rear or heel portion 12'. Then the user simply draws the tool to- Ward him and downwardly, with scraping edge 14 engaging the surface S until the snow and ice is removed.

The device Will prove very effective in use, and this whether the tool is worked in single strokes or in repeating, scraping motions as the surface is traversed from top to bottom.

It is noted that in the preferred embodiment of the invention shown, the finger grip deformity 13 is not merely a recess but rather a deformity extending in a direction parallel to the blade portion 11 of the tool. In this manner the users fingers are accommodated, and the amount of material necessary in forming the scraping tool is reduced to a minimum, this without weakening the construction of the same.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

A one-piece molded scraper tool for removing ice and frost from Windshields, said scraper tool comprising a handle portion having an undersurface and a blade portion integral with said handle portion, said blade portion extending below said undersurface and including a transverse, scraping edge extremity, and said handle portion including a transversely oriented finger-grip pocket protruding laterally and also below said undersurface and disposed nominally parallel with and extending on the same side as said transverse, scraping edge extremity.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 842,074 1/07 Bryan 30-169 1,538,521 5/25 Sheridan 30l69 1,638,486 8/27 Hayes 30169 1,841,163 1/32 Trane 30169 1,967,123 7/34 Lubarsky 30171 2,178,019 10/39 Knuteson 30-169- 2,860,411 11/58 Stogsdill 30-171 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

